I wrestled with installing my T-5 tranny to the engine. See the photo I attached. I used all thread studs in the bellhousing to help me align everything. I finally got the tranny splines aligned and pushed it almost all the way in. I still have about a half inch to go but I'm not sure what is keeping it from going in the rest of the way. What should I do? Keep wiggling and twisting the tranny or replace the temporary all thread studs with the regular tranny to bell housing bolts and try to torque it in the rest of the way?
Are you using the t-5 bellhousing? Did you use an alignment tool before tightening the pressure plate bolts?
Possibly front bearing retainer may be larger in diameter than the bell opening??? This was a issue in the early to mid 60s trans but I dunno about T-5... On mechanical linkage I've installed a many Top Loaders by depressing clutch and wiggling trans till snout fit into pilot bearing... Will need a helper or can use a 2x4 on clutch pedal held down by seat moved forward...
You know how they say never say never? This is the exception to that rule, NEVER try to draw down a reluctant transmission with the mounting bolts.....unless of course you want to break it.
This is the same T-5 and bell housing that came off the original engine. I used an alignment tool before I tightened the pressure plate bolts. The engine/tranny are not in the car to I can't use the clutch trick. It looks like the nose of the tranny is not sliding into the pilot bearing. I think I'll try removing the temporary all thread studs so I'll have some wiggle room to get the nose into the pilot bearing. I think that may do the trick.
You are doing things the right way. Better to resolve the issue now vs. on your back straining to support the tranny.
either your through out bearing is getting stuck or your pilot bearing is the wrong size/ not deep enough in the crank...
My t5 was the same. It was the bearing retianer fitting tight into the bell housing. I had to use the four bolts and evenly tighten them. It went in smooth but was really snug... If tou want it to slide in, maybe use a roll cartridge around the bell where the bearing retainer fits through.
It sounds like you are doing every thing right. Maybe you have on the wrong color socks or you are not holding your tongue just right My t5 went in without using bolts to pull it in place.
Thomas, you got it right. I was holding my tongue in the wrong position. Once I took out my temp all thread bolts I was able to wiggle the front bearing retainer part way into bell housing opening. Then I installed the transmission bolts and tightened evenly. The tranny eased itself in the rest of the way with little effort. Originally this was going to be an exercise to see how hard it would be to install the tranny after the engine was installed. Now I think I'll install the engine and tranny in one piece. See thumbnail.
